Capital Digest

Saying that millions of Americans do not realize they are at risk of
getting the virus that causes AIDS, Secretary Louis W. Sullivan of the
Department of Health and Human Services last week unveiled a national
media campaign aimed at stemming the spread of the virus.

The campaign, which will include newpaper, television, and radio
public-service announcements, will be particularly directed to women,
sexually active young people, and the residents of small towns.

The ads will feature three people who are infected, including two
teenagers.

The "America Responds to AIDS'' campaign had previously targeted
advertisements at the partners of drug users, homosexuals, college
students, and the newly divorced.

In a partial reversal of a controversial policy, the Bush
Administration will permit doctors at federally funded family-planning
clinics to advise women and girls about abortions.

In a memorandum released late last week, clinics receiving money
under the Title X program were told that doctors may discuss abortion
with patients, but nurses and other clinic workers may not.

Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld rules issued by the Reagan
Administration that bar clinics from providing abortion advice unless
pregnancy threatens a client's life.

The Congress has passed legislation to overturn the ban, but is
unable to override a veto.

The outgoing head of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration will advise his successor to include a "Teaching from
Space'' program among his top priorities.

Richard H. Truly said in a speech last week that he will encourage
Daniel S. Goldin, President Bush's nominee for NASA administrator, to
include Barbara Morgan, an Idaho teacher, on an upcoming space-shuttle
mission.

Further, Mr. Truly said, NASA should "use the medium of space to
enhance education in many areas'' and inspire young people.

"The next step for us will be to make routine a program of teaching
from space,'' he said. "NASA senior management has reviewed this
situation annually, and I am more than satisifed. I am eager.''

Mr. Truly said the teaching emphasis should begin with the
involvement of Ms. Morgan, who was the "Teacher in Space'' alternate to
Christa McAuliffe, the New Hampshire teacher who died in the 1986
explosion of the Challenger shuttle.

The House last week failed to override President Bush's veto of a
tax bill that would have provided a $300 tax credit for each child
under the age of 16.

The override attempt did not garner even a simple majority, failing
211 to 215.

The bill would have made student-loan interest deductible and
allowed donors to deduct the full current value of property gifts,
aiding private schools. A provision in the Senate's version to create a
direct-loan program died in a House-Senate conference.

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